TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device, and in particular
to a liquid crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer which is formed
of a low-viscosity liquid crystal material. Moreover, the present invention also relates
to an electronic apparatus incorporating such a liquid crystal display device.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In recent years, the needs for displaying moving picture information on a liquid
crystal display device are rapidly increasing. In order to display moving pictures
on a liquid crystal display device with a high quality, it is necessary to reduce
the response time (i.e., increase the response speed) of the liquid crystal layer,
and it is a requirement to reach a predetermined gray scale level within one vertical
scanning period (which typically is one frame).
[0003] As one technique for improving the response characteristics of a liquid crystal display
device, a technique of using a low-viscosity liquid crystal material has been proposed.
Low-viscosity liquid crystal materials are disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example.
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 10-292173
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0004] However, conventional liquid crystal display devices have a problem in that, when
a low-viscosity liquid crystal material is used, the voltage retention rate may be
lowered during use, thus resulting in display unevenness. Therefore, liquid crystal
display devices employing a low-viscosity liquid crystal material lack in reliability,
and have not been put to practical use.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an objective
thereof is to improve the reliability of a liquid crystal display device comprising
a liquid crystal layer which is formed of a low-viscosity liquid crystal material.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS
[0006] A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention is a liquid crystal
display device comprising an illuminator and a liquid crystal panel for performing
displaying by using light which is emitted from the illuminator, wherein, the liquid
crystal panel includes a pair of substrates and a liquid crystal layer provided between
the pair of substrates; the liquid crystal layer is formed of a liquid crystal material
which contains molecules having at least one of a carbon-carbon triple bond and a
polycyclic group; and the illuminator includes a light source causing primary generation
of at least blue light, among other light which is used for displaying. Thus, the
aforementioned objective is met.
[0007] In a preferred embodiment, a coefficient of rotational viscosity γ
1 of the liquid crystal material at 20°C is 120 mPa·s or less.
[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the molecules contained in the liquid crystal material
have a chemical structure expressed by one of the following formulae:

(where n in the formulae is an integer equal to or greater than 2; and any hydrogen
atom contained in a ring structure in the formulae may be, independently, substituted
by a halogen atom, a cyano group, or an isocyano group).
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystal material contains 25 weight % or more
of the molecules having the chemical structure.
[0010] In a preferred embodiment, a spectrum of blue light which is emitted by the light
source has a peak wavelength at 380 nm or more.
[0011] In a preferred embodiment, the light source generates substantially no light in an
ultraviolet region.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the light source is a light-emitting diode.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, the light source is an electroluminescence element.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the light source is a discharge tube.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystal panel performs displaying in a vertical
alignment mode.
[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystal panel performs displaying in an in-plane
switching mode.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid crystal panel further includes a plurality
of pixel regions each capable of modulating light emitted from the illuminator, and
a switching element provided in each of the plurality of pixel regions.
[0018] An electronic apparatus according to the present invention comprises a liquid crystal
display device having the above construction.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, an electronic apparatus according to the present invention
further comprises circuitry for receiving a television broadcast.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0020] An illuminator comprised in an liquid crystal display device according to the present
invention includes a light source causing primary generation of at least blue light,
among other light which is used for displaying, and therefore decomposition of the
molecules contained in the liquid crystal material due to ultraviolet light is suppressed.
As a result, according to the present invention, the reliability of a liquid crystal
display device comprising a liquid crystal layer which is formed of a low-viscosity
liquid crystal material can be improved, and thus a liquid crystal display device
which is capable of performing high-quality displaying for long hours can be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021]
[FIG. 1] A cross-sectional view schematically showing a liquid crystal display device according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 2] A cross-sectional view schematically showing a liquid crystal display device according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[FIG. 3] An upper plan view schematically showing an active matrix substrate which is used
for a VA mode liquid crystal display device.
[FIG. 4] A diagram schematically showing a relationship between pretilt directions imparted
to alignment films and a tilting direction of a liquid crystal molecule.
[FIG. 5] An upper plan view schematically showing an active matrix substrate which is used
for an IPS mode liquid crystal display device.
[FIG. 6] An upper plan view schematically showing an active matrix substrate which is used
for an IPS mode liquid crystal display device.
[FIG. 7] A graph showing an emission spectrum of blue LED #1 used for a prototype liquid
crystal display device.
[FIG. 8] A graph showing an emission spectrum of blue LED #2 used for a prototype liquid
crystal display device.
[FIG. 9] A graph showing an emission spectrum of blue LED #3 used for a prototype liquid
crystal display device.
[FIG. 10] A graph showing emission spectrum of blue LED #4 used for a prototype liquid crystal
display device.
[FIG. 11] (a) and (b) are graphs showing an emission spectrum of a cold-cathode tube (CCFL) used for a
liquid crystal display device of a comparative example.
[FIG. 12] A graph showing a voltage-transmittance curve of a VA mode liquid crystal display
device.
[FIG. 13] A graph showing a voltage-transmittance curve of a VA mode liquid crystal display
device, where transmittance is shown in logarithm on the vertical axis.
[FIG. 14] A graph showing a voltage-transmittance curve of a TN mode liquid crystal display
device.
[FIG. 15] A graph showing a voltage-transmittance curve of a TN mode liquid crystal display
device, where transmittance is shown in logarithm on the vertical axis.
[FIG. 16] A graph showing an absorption spectrum of a TAC film containing an ultraviolet absorber.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0022]
- 10A, 10B
- illuminator
- 12
- light-emitting diode
- 12R
- red light-emitting diode
- 12G
- green light-emitting diode
- 12B
- blue light-emitting diode
- 20
- liquid crystal panel
- 20a, 20b
- substrate
- 21
- liquid crystal layer
- 21a
- liquid crystal molecules
- 22a, 22b
- alignment film
- 23
- scanning line
- 24
- signal line
- 25
- TFT
- 26
- pixel electrode
- 27
- common electrode
- 28
- common line
- 29
- storage capacitor electrode
- 30
- diffusion sheet
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0023] The inventor has conducted a detailed analysis of the causes for the aforementioned
problems occurring in a liquid crystal display device in which a low-viscosity liquid
crystal material is used.
[0024] Being a non-emission type display device, a liquid crystal display device comprises
an illuminator, and displaying is performed by modulating the light from the illuminator
with a liquid crystal panel. As will be described later, the inventor has ascertained
that a minute amount of ultraviolet light is emitted from the illuminator. Furthermore,
the inventor has ascertained that a liquid crystal material having a low viscosity
is likely to contain molecules which are susceptible to decomposition by ultraviolet
light (i.e., unstable against ultraviolet light), and found that orientation disturbances
and a decrease in the voltage retention rate occur when such molecules are decomposed
by the ultraviolet light from the light sources.
[0025] In the illuminator of a commonly-used liquid crystal display device, a cold-cathode
tube is used as a light source. In the cold-cathode tube, mercury which is enclosed
within the tube is excited by discharging to generate ultraviolet light, and this
ultraviolet light excites a phosphor which is enclosed in the tube, whereby visible
light that is used for displaying (which typically is light containing red, green,
and blue light) is generated. In other words, the cold-cathode tube causes primary
generation of ultraviolet light, and the ultraviolet light causes secondary generation
of visible light.
[0026] Not all of the ultraviolet light that is generated from the mercury is used for exciting
the phosphor, but a part thereof is emitted outside the tube and reaches the liquid
crystal panel. Although the ultraviolet light emitted outside the tube is so minute
that it can hardly be detected with a commonly-used illuminometer, the ultraviolet
light will irradiate the liquid crystal panel for long periods of time, thus promoting
decomposition of the molecules in the liquid crystal material and causing the aforementioned
problems.
[0027] In recent years, liquid crystal display devices have come to be used for liquid crystal
television sets which display images from a television broadcast. It is contemplated
that a liquid crystal television set will be placed in a living room or the like,
and used for very long hours. Therefore, a liquid crystal television set is required
to have a reliability such that it is capable of performing stable displaying for
about forty thousand hours (10 hours/day × 365 days × 10 years). In such long hours
of use, decomposition of molecules due to ultraviolet light from the illuminator presents
a major problem.
[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference
to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiment
below.
[0029] FIG.
1 shows a liquid crystal display device
100 according to the present embodiment. The liquid crystal display device
100 comprises an illuminator
10A and a liquid crystal panel
20 which performs displaying by using light emitted from the illuminator
10A. A diffusion sheet
30 for diffusing the light from the illuminator
10A is provided between the illuminator
10A and the liquid crystal panel
20.
[0030] The liquid crystal panel
20 includes: a pair of substrates (e.g., glass substrates)
20a and
20b; a liquid crystal layer
21 provided therebetween; and a pair of alignment films
22a and
22b which are provided on the sides of the pair of substrates
20a and
20b facing the liquid crystal layer
21. Although not shown in the figure, electrodes for applying a voltage across the liquid
crystal layer
21 are formed on the substrates
20a and
20b.
[0031] The illuminator
10A is an LED array which includes a plurality of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged
in a matrix array as light sources. Specifically, the illuminator
10A includes red LEDs
12R, green LEDs
12G, and blue LEDs
12B.
[0032] Through recombination of electrons and holes occurring at a pn junction where a bias
voltage is applied in the forward direction, the red LEDs
12R, green LEDs
12G, and blue LEDs
12B generate red light, green light, and blue light, respectively. In other words, the
red LEDs
12R, green LEDs
12G, and blue LEDs
12B cause primary generation of red light, green light, and blue light, respectively;
and white light which contains these kinds of light is radiated onto the liquid crystal
panel
20 so as to be used for color displaying.
[0033] As described above, the illuminator
10A of the liquid crystal display device
100 includes light sources causing primary (i.e., direct) generation of light to be used
for displaying, and therefore decomposition of molecules due to ultraviolet light
is unlikely to occur even when the liquid crystal layer
21 is formed of a low-viscosity liquid crystal material in order to improve the response
characteristics. Hence, orientation disturbances and decrease in the voltage retention
rate due to decomposition of the molecules in the liquid crystal layer are unlikely
to occur, so that high-quality displaying can be performed for long periods of time.
[0034] Although FIG.
1 illustrates an illuminator
10A which includes the red LEDs
12R, green LEDs
12G, and blue LEDs
12B, the present invention is not to be limited thereto. An illuminator that includes
blue LEDs and phosphors which absorb light from the blue LEDs and generate light in
longer wavelength regions may also be used. For example, an illuminator that includes
blue LEDs and red LEDs as well as green phosphors which generate green light by absorbing
blue light, or an illuminator that includes blue LEDs, green phosphors, and red phosphors
which generate red light by absorbing blue light may be used. By using an illuminator
that includes light sources causing primary generation of at least blue light, among
other light which is used for displaying, decomposition of the molecules in the liquid
crystal layer can be suppressed.
[0035] Moreover, although the illuminator
10A shown in FIG.
1 is a direct-type illuminator in which LEDs are arranged in a matrix array immediately
under the liquid crystal panel
20, any other type of illuminator may be used. For example, as in an illuminator
10B shown in FIG.
2, it may be a sidelight-type illuminator in which an LED
12 is disposed at an end face of a light guide plate
14 that is provided at the rear face side of a liquid crystal panel
20 and in which light from the LED
12 is guided by the light guide plate
14 into the liquid crystal panel
20.
[0036] The present invention can be suitably used for liquid crystal display devices of
various display modes. For example, it may be suitably used for a liquid crystal display
device of a twisted nematic (TN) mode, a vertical alignment (VA) mode, or an in-plane
switching (IPS) mode.
[0037] Now, a VA mode liquid crystal display device will be described. FIG.
3 schematically shows an active matrix substrate
20a of a VA mode liquid crystal panel. Formed on the active matrix substrate
20a are: a plurality of scanning lines
23 extending substantially in parallel to one another; a plurality of signal lines
24 extending in a direction intersecting the scanning lines
23; TFTs
25 electrically connected to corresponding scanning lines
23 and signal lines
24; and pixel electrodes
26 electrically connected to the TFTs
25. Each TFT
25 and each pixel electrode
26 are provided in each one of a plurality of pixel regions arranged in a matrix array.
On the active matrix substrate
20a, storage capacitor lines
23' for composing storage capacitors are further formed.
[0038] On the surface of the active matrix substrate
20a shown in FIG.
3, an alignment film
22a having vertical alignment properties is formed. The alignment film
22a has been subjected to a predetermined alignment treatment, such that the alignment
film
22a defines the pretilt angle and pretilt direction of the liquid crystal molecules.
Note that the "pretilt angle" is an angle between the major axis of a liquid crystal
molecule whose orientation is regulated by the orientation regulating force of the
alignment film surface and the substrate surface. The "pretilt direction" is an azimuthal
direction of the major axis of a liquid crystal molecule whose orientation is regulated
by the orientation regulating force of the alignment film surface. Since the pretilt
direction of a liquid crystal molecule is defined by the orientation regulating force
of an alignment film, the direction of the orientation regulating force of an alignment
film is also expressed by the term "pretilt direction" in the present specification.
As illustrated with respect to a lower left pixel in FIG.
3, the alignment film
22a has different pretilt directions (solid arrows in the figure) respectively for four
regions within the pixel region.
[0039] Also, an alignment film
22b having vertical alignment properties is formed on the surface of a color filter substrate
20b opposing the active matrix substrate
20a. As shown in FIG.
3, the alignment film
22b has different pretilt directions (dotted arrows in the figure) respectively for four
regions within the pixel region. As shown in FIG.
3 and FIG.
4, these pretilt directions are set so as to be opposite to the pretilt directions of
the alignment film
22a on the active matrix substrate
20a side.
[0040] In the VA mode liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules
21a contained in the liquid crystal layer
21 have a negative dielectric anisotropy such that, under an applied voltage, the liquid
crystal molecules
21a having a negative dielectric anisotropy will be tilted from a substantially vertical
state. Since the pretilt directions of the alignment films
22a and
22b are set in the above-described manner, under an applied voltage, the liquid crystal
layer
21 will form four liquid crystal domains characterized by different orientation directions
of the liquid crystal molecules
21a. In other words, each pixel region is orientation-divided into four regions in which
liquid crystal molecules will tilt in different directions (four-divided orientation).
As a result of this, the viewing angle dependence of displaying is reduced, whereby
the viewing angle characteristics are improved.
[0041] Next, an IPS mode liquid crystal display device will be described. FIG.
5 schematically shows an active matrix substrate
20a of an IPS mode liquid crystal panel. Formed on the active matrix substrate
20a are: a plurality of scanning lines
23 extending substantially in parallel to one another; a plurality of signal lines
24 extending in a direction intersecting the scanning lines
23; TFTs
25 electrically connected to corresponding scanning lines
23 and signal lines
24; and pixel electrodes
26 electrically connected to the TFTs
25. The pixel electrodes
26 are formed in the shape of combteeth extending substantially in parallel to the signal
lines
24.
[0042] On the active matrix substrate
20a, common electrodes
27 are further provided, which are formed in the shape of combteeth that are substantially
parallel to the pixel electrodes
26. The common electrodes
27 extend from common lines
28, which are formed substantially in parallel to the scanning lines
23. Via an insulative film (not shown), the common lines
28 oppose storage capacitor electrodes
29, which are formed of the same conductive layer as the pixel electrodes
26, and thus constitute storage capacitors.
[0043] On the surface of the active matrix substrate
20a shown in FIG.
5, an alignment film
22a having horizontal alignment properties is formed. Also, on the surface of the color
filter substrate
20b opposing the active matrix substrate
20a, an alignment film
22b having horizontal alignment properties is formed.
[0044] In an IPS mode liquid crystal display device, liquid crystal molecules contained
in the liquid crystal layer
21 have a positive dielectric anisotropy such that, under an applied voltage, their
orientation directions are changed by lateral fields which are generated between the
pixel electrodes
26 and the common electrodes
27 (electric fields which are parallel to the layer plane of the liquid crystal layer).
In an IPS mode liquid crystal display device, good viewing angle characteristics are
realized because the orientation directions of the liquid crystal molecules vary within
the plane which is parallel to the liquid crystal layer
21.
[0045] Note that the IPS mode has a problem in that a coloring phenomenon occurs when observed
in an oblique direction (a direction which is tilted from the substrate-plane normal
direction). Specifically, the light becomes bluish when observed in the longitudinal
direction of the liquid crystal molecules, whereas the light becomes yellowish when
observed in the minor-axis direction of the liquid crystal molecules. In other words,
the light passing through the liquid crystal layer in an oblique manner (in a direction
tilted from the layer normal direction) may become bluish or yellowish. This is because
retardation of the liquid crystal molecules has a wavelength dispersion (wavelength
dependence).
[0046] In order to suppress the aforementioned coloring phenomenon, a construction as shown
in FIG.
6 may be adopted. An active matrix substrate
20a shown in FIG.
6 includes signal lines
24 which are bent a plurality of times (zigzag-shaped), as well as pixel electrodes
26 and common electrodes
27 which are bent so as to be substantially parallel to the signal lines
24 (in the "<" shape).
[0047] Since the pixel electrodes
26 and the common electrodes
27 have bent shapes as described above, under an applied voltage, two regions characterized
by different orientation directions of the liquid crystal molecules are created in
each pixel region. Therefore, when observed in a certain oblique direction, each region
causes the wavelength region of light to be shifted to a hue of a complementary color,
whereby the coloring phenomenon is suppressed.
[0048] Next, low-viscosity liquid crystal materials containing molecules which are unstable
against ultraviolet light will be specifically described. Note that a liquid crystal
material is generally a mixture of a plurality of types of molecules (compounds),
and any molecule composing the liquid crystal material may not necessarily exhibit
liquid crystal properties as a simple substance.
[0049] When molecules having at least one of a carbon-carbon triple bond and a polycyclic
group are mixed in a liquid crystal material, the viscosity of the liquid crystal
material is lowered, whereby the response characteristics of the liquid crystal display
device can be improved. Although molecules having at least one of a carbon-carbon
triple bond and a polycyclic group have low stability against ultraviolet light, the
present invention suppresses decomposition of such molecules, whereby decrease in
the voltage retention rate and display unevenness can be prevented. In particular,
when using a liquid crystal material whose coefficient of rotational viscosity γ
1 at 20°C is 120 mPa·s or less, there is a large significance in employing the present
invention because decrease in the voltage retention rate and display unevenness are
likely to occur. Note that, in the present specification, "polycyclic groups" refer
to both noncondensed polycyclic groups and condensed polycyclic groups.
[0050] Examples of molecules having at least one of a carbon-carbon triple bond and a polycyclic
group include molecules having a chemical structure expressed by any of the following
formulae. By mixing such molecules into the liquid crystal material, it can be easily
ensured that the coefficient of rotational viscosity γ
1 of the liquid crystal material at 20°C is 120 mPa·s or less. Note that n in the following
formulae is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and any hydrogen atom contained
in a ring structure in the following formulae may independently be substituted by
a halogen atom, a cyano group, or an isocyano group.
[0051]

[0052] By mixing 25 weight % or more of molecules having any such chemical structure into
the liquid crystal material, the viscosity of the liquid crystal material is sufficiently
lowered, whereby rapid response can be obtained. Specifically, a response time of
about one frame or less can be realized, and a level of moving picture performance
that is required of a liquid crystal television set can be obtained.
[0053] Among molecules having the aforementioned chemical structures, molecules having a
tolan group (i.e., molecules including structures expressed by the formulae shown
by [formula 5] below, specific examples being molecules expressed by formulae (I)
and (VI)) provide great viscosity-reducing effects, and yet have very low stability
against ultraviolet due to their triple bonds. Thus, the effects of the present invention
will be most clearly exhibited for them.
[0054] Hereinafter, examples of liquid crystal materials and their constituent molecules
will be described more specifically.
[0055] As low-viscosity liquid crystal materials, liquid crystal materials containing molecules
expressed by formula (I) below can be used, for example. In formula (I), m and n are
integers equal to or greater than 1. Liquid crystal materials containing molecules
as expressed by formula (I) are disclosed in IDW '00, p.77, for example, and can have
a coefficient of rotational viscosity γ
1 of about 111 to 114 mPa·s at 20°C.
[0056]

[0057] Alternatively, liquid crystal materials containing molecules which are expressed
by formula (II) below can be used. In formula (II), each of A and B is independently
a cyclohexylene, a phenylene, a phenylene some of whose H's are substituted by F's,
or a cyclohexylene at least one of whose H's is substituted by D; at least one of
Z
1 and Z
2 is -C≡C-; R1 is an alkyl, an alkenyl, an oxaalkyl, or an alkoxy (where preferably
the number of C's is no less than 1 and no more than 10); and X
1, X
2, and X
3 are H or F. Typically, X
2 is F, and at least one of X
1 and X
3 is F.
[0058]

[0059] Liquid crystal materials containing molecules as expressed by formula (II) are disclosed
in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.
10-292173, for example, and can have a coefficient of rotational viscosity γ
1 of 28 mPa·s or less at 20°C. Molecules expressed by formula (II) include structures
expressed by the following formulae, for example.
[0060]

[0061] Alternatively, liquid crystal materials containing molecules expressed by formulae
(III), (IV) and (V) below can be used. In formulae (III), (IV), and (V), R is an alkyl,
an alkenyl, an oxaalkyl, or an alkoxy; each of X
1, X
2, X
3, and X
4 is, independently, H or F; and Y is F, -CF
3, -OCF
3, -OCHF
2, - OCH
2F, or R. Liquid crystal materials containing molecules as expressed by formulae (III),
(IV), and (V) are disclosed in
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-38154, for example.
[0062]

[0063]

[0064]

[0065] Moreover, liquid crystal materials containing molecules expressed by formula (VI)
can be used for an IPS mode liquid crystal display device (having an active matrix
substrate
20a as shown in FIG.
5 or FIG.
6, for example). In formula (VI), m and n are integers equal to or greater than 1.
[0066]

[0067] Liquid crystal materials containing molecules as expressed by formula (VI) are disclosed
in
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 7-316556, for example. As is disclosed in this publication as Example 3, a liquid crystal
material in which molecules expressed by formula (VI) and molecules expressed by formula
(VII) are mixed has a coefficient of rotational viscosity γ
1 of about 20 mPa·s at 20°C.
[0068]

[0069] Furthermore, liquid crystal materials containing molecules expressed by formula (VIII),
(IX), and (X) can be used for a VA mode liquid crystal display device (having an active
matrix substrate
20a as shown in FIG. 3, for example). In formula (VIII), (IX), and (X), each of X
1 to X
6 is, independently, a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, or an isocyano
group. However, it is preferable that at least one of X
1, X
2 and X
3, at least one of X
4 and X
5, and X
6 are not hydrogen atoms. Moreover, those of X
1 to X
6 which are not hydrogen atoms are preferably halogen atoms, and more preferably fluorine
atoms.
[0070]

[0071]

[0072]

[0073] Liquid crystal materials containing molecules as expressed by formula (VIII), (IX),
and (X) are disclosed in
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-69449, for example. A liquid crystal material which is disclosed in this publication as
Example 1 has a negative dielectric anisotropy, and can be used for a VA mode liquid
crystal display device.
[0074] Next, results of evaluating the reliability of actually-produced liquid crystal display
devices will be described. The inventor has actually produced liquid crystal display
devices each comprising a liquid crystal panel having a liquid crystal layer which
is formed of a low-viscosity liquid crystal material and an illuminator including
light sources causing primary generation of light to be used for displaying, and evaluated
their reliabilities.
[0075] First, the VA mode active matrix substrate
20a shown in FIG.
3 and the color filter substrate
20b were produced by known techniques. On the surfaces of the active matrix substrate
20a and the color filter substrate
20b, an alignment film material whose main structure is polyimide and which has a side
chain that induces vertical alignment properties as well as a photoreactive side chain
composed of a chalcone group was applied so as to form alignment films, and these
alignment films were irradiated with polarized ultraviolet light from a direction
oblique to the substrate-plane normal direction. The active matrix substrate thus
produced was attached to the color filter substrate, and a liquid crystal material
was injected into the gap therebetween, thus producing a liquid crystal panel. As
the liquid crystal material, a liquid crystal material containing molecules having
a naphthalene group was used.
[0076] A plurality of liquid crystal panels as described above were produced, and on the
rear faces of these liquid crystal panels, illuminators #1 to #4 having red LEDs,
green LEDs and blue LEDs were provided, thus producing liquid crystal display devices
(Prototypes 1 to 4). Moreover, illuminator #5 having a cold-cathode tube (CCFL) was
provided on the rear face of a liquid crystal panel as described above, thus producing
a liquid crystal display device (Comparative Example 1). The emission spectra of blue
LEDs #1 to #4 used for illuminators #1 to #4 are shown in FIG.
7 to FIG.
10, whereas the emission spectrum of the cold-cathode tube (CCFL) used for illuminator
#5 is shown in FIGS.
11(a) and
(b). Note that FIG.
11(b) is a graph obtained by magnifying the vertical axis of FIG.
11(a) by 10 times. The peak wavelengths of blue LEDs #1 to #4 are shown in Table 1.
[0077]
[Table 1]
|
LED #1 |
LED #2 |
LED #3 |
LED #4 |
peak wavelength (nm) |
365 |
382 |
405 |
465 |
[0078] The liquid crystal display devices of Prototypes 1 to 4 and the liquid crystal display
device of Comparative Example 1 were observed with respect to aging. However, in order
to conduct accelerated tests, the luminance of the light sources was set so as to
be 10 times as large as the usual luminance.
[0079] In the liquid crystal display devices of Prototypes 1 to 4, no changes occurred after
500 hours. However, in the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1,
changes began to occur in the orientation directions (pretilt directions) after 500
hours, and a decrease in the voltage retention rate was also observed.
[0080] Moreover, in the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1, changes
in the orientation directions became greater after 1000 hours, and conspicuous display
unevenness was observed. On the other hand, among the liquid crystal display devices
of Prototypes 1 to 4, a slight decrease in the voltage retention rate was observed
for Prototype 1, but no change was observed for Prototypes 2 to 4.
[0081] The changes in the orientation directions and decrease in the voltage retention rate
in the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 1 are ascribable to the
ultraviolet light which is generated by the cold-cathode tube of illuminator #5. As
shown in FIGS.
11(a) and
(b), the emission spectrum of the cold-cathode tube exhibits peaks at 313 nm (j line)
and 365 nm (i line). These peaks correspond to emission lines that are characteristic
of mercury emission, and are present in the emission spectrum of a cold-cathode tube
due to its principles. These emission lines cause deterioration of the molecules,
and thus lower the reliability.
[0082] The light near the 313 nm peak, in particular, contributes much to the decomposition
of the molecules in the liquid crystal layer. The reason thereof is described below.
[0083] Absorption wavelength bands of a carbon-carbon (C-C) bond, a carbon-hydrogen (C-H)
bond, and benzene are toward the shorter-wavelength side from 300 nm. Therefore, these
bonds are unlikely to be severed by mercury emission. However, if any conjugated system
exists in the molecules, the absorption wavelength will shift toward the longer-wavelength
side. Moreover, the amount of shift will depend on the number and length of conjugated
systems. For example, shifts toward the longer-wavelength side may occur as follows:
benzene has an absorption wavelength of 261 nm, whereas naphthalene has that of 312
nm and anthracene has that of 375 nm.
[0084] In the case of compounds that have significant viscosity-reducing characteristics
for improving the response characteristics of the liquid crystal display device, i.e.,
compounds having a conjugated system such as a naphthalene group, a biphenyl group,
or a carbon-carbon triple bond (already described), the absorption wavelength also
shifts to 300 nm or more. Therefore, out of the light which is generated by mercury,
it is the 313 nm light (j line) that is most influential on the decomposition of molecules,
followed by the 365 nm light (i line).
[0085] In the case of a compound which causes a large amount of shift and has an absorption
peak near 365 nm (i line), for example, the 365 nm (i line) light is the most influential
light. In this case, however, the absorption edge reaches the visible region so that
blue light will be slightly absorbed. As a result, the compound itself will become
yellowish, which is not favorable from the standpoint of display characteristics.
After all, in a liquid crystal material in which both viscosity and hue are optimized,
it is the 313 nm light (j line) that is most influential on the decomposition of molecules,
followed by the 365 nm light (i line).
[0086] On the other hand, blue LEDs #1 to #4 cause primary generation of blue light, and
thus the emission spectra of blue LEDs #1 to #4 do not have a peak at least near 313
nm, as shown in FIG. 7 to FIG. 10. Therefore, the light which is generated by blue
LEDs #1 to #4 is unlikely to decompose the molecules in the liquid crystal layer.
[0087] As described above, it has been confirmed that the reliability of a liquid crystal
display device comprising a liquid crystal layer which is formed of a low-viscosity
liquid crystal material is improved by using an illuminator that includes light sources
causing primary generation of at least blue light, among other light which is used
for displaying.
[0088] Note that, as can be seen from the fact that a slight decrease in the voltage retention
rate was observed in Prototype 1 after 1000 hours, from the standpoint of further
improving the reliability, it is preferable that the blue light which is generated
by the light sources has a spectrum such that its peak wavelengths are at 380 nm or
more (i.e., so as to fall within the visible region), as is the case with blue LEDs
#2 to #4 of Prototypes 2 to 4. Moreover, it is more preferable that the peak wavelengths
are at 400 nm or more as is the case with blue LEDs #3 and #4, and it is further preferable
that substantially no light in the ultraviolet region is generated as is the case
with blue LED #4. The reason is that, since the absorption edge of an organic compound
has an extent (i.e., the absorption spectrum has a wide breadth), even ultraviolet
light in a region close to the visible region (i.e., on the higher-wavelength side
of the j line and the i line) will slightly contribute to decomposition of molecules,
and will be cumulated during hours of use of the liquid crystal television set (e.g.,
40000 hours) to exhibit an influence.
[0089] Next, the active matrix substrate
20a for the IPS mode shown in FIG.
5 and the color filter substrate
20b were produced by known techniques. On the surfaces of the active matrix substrate
20a and the color filter substrate
20b, an alignment film material having horizontal alignment properties (i.e., causing
hardly any pretilt) was applied so as to form alignment films, and these alignment
films were irradiated with polarized ultraviolet light from the substrate-plane normal
direction. The active matrix substrate thus produced was attached to the color filter
substrate, and a liquid crystal material was injected into the gap therebetween, thus
producing a liquid crystal panel. As the liquid crystal material, a liquid crystal
material containing molecules having a tolan group was used.
[0090] A plurality of liquid crystal panels as described above were produced, and on the
rear faces of these liquid crystal panels, illuminators #1 to #4 having red LEDs,
green LEDs and blue LEDs were provided, thus producing liquid crystal display devices
(Prototypes 5 to 8). Moreover, illuminator #5 having a cold-cathode tube (CCFL) was
provided on the rear face of a liquid crystal panel as described above, thus producing
a liquid crystal display device (Comparative Example 2).
[0091] The liquid crystal display devices of Prototypes 5 to 8 and the liquid crystal display
device of Comparative Example 2 were observed with respect to aging. However, in order
to conduct accelerated tests, the luminance of the light sources was set so as to
be 10 times as large as the usual luminance.
[0092] In the liquid crystal display device of Prototypes 5 to 8, no changes occurred after
500 hours. However, in the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 2,
changes began to occur in the orientation directions (pretilt directions) after 500
hours, and a decrease in the voltage retention rate was also observed.
[0093] Moreover, in the liquid crystal display device of Comparative Example 2, changes
in the orientation directions became greater after 1000 hours, and conspicuous display
unevenness was observed. On the other hand, among the liquid crystal display devices
of Prototypes 5 to 8, a slight decrease in the voltage retention rate was observed
for Prototype 5, no change was observed for Prototypes 6 to 8.
[0094] As described above, it has been confirmed that the reliability of an IPS mode liquid
crystal display device comprising a liquid crystal layer which is formed of a low-viscosity
liquid crystal material is improved by using an illuminator that includes light sources
causing primary generation of at least blue light, among other light which is used
for displaying.
[0095] Note that the present invention is applicable to liquid crystal display devices of
various display modes, and may be used for a TN mode liquid crystal display device,
for example, without being limited to the VA mode and IPS mode described above.
[0096] However, the effects of improving reliability were higher for the VA mode than for
the TN mode. The reason thereof will be described with reference to FIG.
12 to FIG.
15. FIG.
12 and FIG.
13 are graphs showing voltage-transmittance curves of a VA mode liquid crystal display
device. FIG.
14 and FIG.
15 are graphs showing voltage-transmittance curves of a TN mode liquid crystal display
device. The five curves shown in FIG.
12 and FIG.
13 indicate, from the uppermost curve, cases where the pretilt angles are 87.9°, 88.4°,
88.9°, 89.4°, and 89.9°. The five curves shown in FIG.
14 and FIG.
15 indicate, from the uppermost curve, cases where the pretilt angles are 0.1°, 0.6°,
1.1°, 1.6°, and 2.1°.
[0097] As can bee seen from a comparison between FIGS.
12 and
13 and FIGS.
14 and
15, and in particular from a comparison between FIG.
13 and FIG.
15 where the transmittance is shown in logarithm on the vertical axis, the voltage-transmittance
curves at the black level to low-luminance gray scale levels (i.e., portions surrounded
by broken lines in FIG.
13 and FIG.
15) are steeper and the amount of change in transmittance with respect to changes in
the pretilt angles is greater in the VA mode than in the TN mode. Note that the gray
scale level has an exponential relationship with transmittance. For example, the transmittance
T
n at an n
th gray scale level in 256 gray scale-level displaying is expressed as T
n=(n/255)
2.2. Therefore, in order to discuss the relationship between gray scale levels and transmittance,
it is preferable to employ semi-logarithmic plotting as in FIG.
13 and FIG.
15.
[0098] Since the amount of change in transmittance with respect to changes in the pretilt
angles is greater in the VA mode as mentioned above, in the VA mode, display unevenness
may occur even if slight changes occur in the pretilt angles due to decomposition
of the molecules in the liquid crystal layer. Therefore, the reliability-improving
effects of the present invention are high. Moreover, in the case where alignment division
is adopted, changes in the pretilt angles may cause changes in the positions of the
boundaries between domains, whereby displaying coarseness may be observed. Therefore,
the reliability-improving effects are especially high in a VA mode where orientation
division is adopted.
[0099] Moreover, the present invention provides high reliability-improving effects also
in the IPS mode. In the IPS mode, displaying is performed by generating lateral fields
using combteeth-like electrodes. However, since no lateral fields occur above the
electrodes, the portions where the electrodes are formed do not contribute to displaying.
Therefore, the effective aperture ratio is lower than that in the TN mode or the VA
mode, and is typically about half of that in the TN mode or the VA mode. For this
reason, in order to obtain the same luminance as in the TN mode or the VA mode, it
is necessary to increase the brightness of the light sources to about twice. If an
illuminator including a cold-cathode tube is employed as in the conventional case,
decomposition of the molecules in the liquid crystal layer is likely to occur. Hence,
the reliability-improving effects of the present invention are high.
[0100] Furthermore, the reliability-improving effects of the present invention will also
be clear in an FFS (fringe field switching) mode where, as in the IPS mode, the alignment
state of a horizontal alignment type liquid crystal layer is controlled by using lateral
fields.
[0101] The present invention is suitably used in a passive matrix-type liquid crystal display
device or an active matrix-type liquid crystal display device, but provides clear
effects especially in an active matrix-type liquid crystal display device. In an active
matrix-type liquid crystal display device where a switching element (e.g., a TFT)
is comprised in each pixel, the charge which is charged in the pixel capacitance must
be retained during one frame. If the molecules in the liquid crystal layer are decomposed
by ultraviolet light, the voltage retention rate will decrease, thus resulting in
a lower display quality. According to the present invention, such a decrease in the
voltage retention rate can be suppressed, and therefore active matrix driving can
be performed in a favorable manner.
[0102] Note that ultraviolet light is also contained in external light entering the liquid
crystal panel 20, and the light which is generated by blue LEDs may also contain a
slight amount of light in the ultraviolet region. Therefore, in order to more certainly
suppress decomposition of molecules due to ultraviolet light, members for absorbing
ultraviolet light may be provided at the illuminator side or the viewer side of the
liquid crystal layer 21, or members positioned at the illuminator side and the viewer
side of the liquid crystal layer 21 may be formed from a material which absorbs ultraviolet
light.
[0103] However, in a liquid crystal display device incorporating an illuminator which includes
a cold-cathode tube, decomposition of the molecules in the liquid crystal layer will
occur even if members for absorbing ultraviolet light are provided. Polarizing plates
having TAC (triacetyl cellulose) films, which contain an ultraviolet absorber, were
used in the aforementioned Prototype- and Comparative-Example liquid crystal display
devices, but decomposition of molecules nonetheless occurred in the Comparative Examples.
This is because even a member which absorbs ultraviolet light cannot absorb all of
the ultraviolet light that is generated upon light emission due to its principles.
[0104] FIG.
16 shows an absorption spectrum of a TAC film containing an ultraviolet absorber. As
can be seen from FIG.
16, this TAC film has absorptivity with respect to light of a wavelength of 400 nm or
less. However, its OD (Optical Density) value is about 1 to 4, and thus it is not
able to completely absorb ultraviolet light. Therefore, even ultraviolet light which
is so feeble that it cannot be detected by an illuminometer may, when radiated onto
the liquid crystal layer for long hours, reach a point where its cumulative energy
decomposes the molecules.
[0105] Although the present embodiment illustrates LEDs as light sources, this is not a
limitation. Any light source can be broadly used which cause primary generation of
at least blue light. For example, electroluminescence (EL) elements can be used. Note
that LEDs may sometimes be referred to as EL elements (EL element in the broad sense)
because they perform light emission by utilizing electroluminescence. However, in
the present specification, "EL elements" refer to intrinsic EL elements such as so-called
organic EL elements and inorganic EL elements, and do not refer to injection-type
EL elements such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs), unless otherwise specified. An illuminator
that includes red EL elements, green EL elements, and blue EL elements may be used,
or an illuminator that includes blue EL elements and phosphors which absorb light
from the blue EL elements and generate light in longer wavelength regions may also
be used. Alternatively, an illuminator that includes white EL elements in which red,
green, and blue emission layers are overlaid may be used.
[0106] Moreover, it is even possible to employ discharge tubes which do not cause primary
generation of ultraviolet light, such as neon tubes enclosing a noble gas causing
primary generation of light which is used for displaying. For example, since a neon
tube enclosing neon is capable of primary generation of fire red and an argon tube
enclosing argon is capable of primary generation of blue-green light, a white light
source can be obtained by combining a neon tube, an argon tube, and a color filter
for adjusting the color balance, for example.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0107] According to the present invention, the reliability of a liquid crystal display device
comprising a liquid crystal layer which is formed of a low-viscosity liquid crystal
material can be improved, and a liquid crystal display device which is capable of
performing high-quality displaying for long hours is provided.
[0108] A liquid crystal display device according to the present invention can be suitably
used for various electronic apparatuses which are expected to be used for long periods
of time. For example, it can be suitably used for a liquid crystal television set
which includes circuitry for receiving television broadcasts.